The First Clue
910 Words
The sound of footsteps woke Elena. She can’t easily remember her whereabouts. Her heart was pounding so she sat up quickly and searched the warehouse's dark room.
Gabriel stood by the window, turned her back against her, pushed aside the curtain slightly to see outside. Shadows were created on the floor by the early morning light that penetrated in.
She rubbed her eyes and stood. “Is someone out there?”
“No,” he said. “Just being careful. We leave in fifteen minutes.”
Elena swallowed. “Where are we going?”
“Somewhere we can get answers.”
She didn’t ask more. He clearly wasn’t the talkative type. But every part of her burned with questions. Why her? Why now? And why had he spared her?
She changed into the clean clothes Gabriel had provided the night before, a black hoodie with jeans and sneakers. Everything fit well enough. Practical, plain. Nothing that drew attention.
By the time she joined him downstairs, Gabriel had the van ready. He handed her a plain baseball cap and sunglasses.
“We keep our heads down,” he said. “No names. No questions. If I say run, you run.”
Elena nodded, forcing down the nervous flutter in her chest. “Got it.”
They drove through the city quietly. Her thoughts were racing as she watched the streets pass by. Until they arrived at an abandoned apartment in a neglected area of the city, Gabriel remained silent. He parked and killed the engine.
“Stay close,” he said.
They went through three levels of stairs and into the building. Gabriel knocked on the door at the top in a rhythmic code.
The door cracked open after a few seconds. Staring out was a skinny man with bright eyes. His gaze landed on Gabriel and he opened the door wider.
“Cruz,” he said, surprised. “Didn’t think I’d see you again.”
“Need information, Marcus.”
Marcus glanced at Elena. “ Is she part of this?” She asked.
Gabriel nodded. “She’s the reason I came here.”
Marcus stepped aside. “Then come in.”
Computer screens, cables, and piles of printed paperwork littered the room. Elena sat while Gabriel stood near Marcus, whispering quickly. Elena couldn’t hear much, but she caught words like “contract,” “payment,” and “file number.”
Finally, Marcus turned toward her. “You’re Elena Rivas?”
She tensed. “Yes.”
“Your father’s name carries weight, even now.”
“I thought he left that world behind,” she said.
“He did,” Marcus replied, tapping a keyboard. “But enemies remember. Especially those who lost something because of him.”
Gabriel crossed his arms. “We need to know who put out the hit. Someone powerful. Hidden.”
Marcus worked in silence, fingers flying over the keyboard. After a few tense minutes, he turned the screen toward them.
“Payment for the hit was sent through a shell company two weeks ago. That company is connected to a security firm. Guess who owns it?”
Gabriel leaned in. “Who?”
Marcus clicked again. “Miguel Herrera.”
Elena’s stomach dropped. “My father’s former aide?”
“Not just an aide anymore,” Marcus said. “He’s running his own operations now. And judging by this, he’s willing to kill to stay in power.”
Gabriel’s eyes narrowed. “Is he working alone?”
“Unlikely. But you’ll need more than this to prove it.”
Elena stood. “Then we find more.”
Marcus handed Gabriel a flash drive. “This has everything I’ve dug up so far. Be careful. Herrera’s men are smart and well-funded.”
Gabriel nodded. “Thanks, Marcus.”
As they walked back to the van, Elena’s mind spun.
She looked at Gabriel. “Herrera used to work for my father. They trusted each other.”
Gabriel kept his eyes ahead. “Power changes people. So does greed.”
Back in the van, Gabriel drove in silence for a while. Elena finally broke it.
“Why did you become a hitman?”
Gabriel didn’t answer immediately. When he did, his voice was low. “I wasn’t always one. I used to be military. Then I saw how the system worked. How people in power play games with lives. I walked away from that, but I needed money. I took a job. Then another. Before I realized it, I was in deep.”
“Do you regret it?” she asked quietly.
He looked at her. “Every day.”
Hearing him say that made it easier for her to breathe, but she wasn't sure of the reason. It indicated that he still had a conscience, but it wasn't enough for his actions.
“We’re going to a safehouse,” he said. “Somewhere no one will think to look. We will lay low, then plan our next move.”
Elena nodded. “I want to help.”
He glanced at her. “You’re not trained for this.”
“No. But I know Herrera. I know how he thinks. I won’t just hide while someone else tries to end my life.”
Gabriel studied her for a moment. Then he nodded. “Alright. We do this together.”
Elena felt hopeful for the first time since that awful night.
A small one.
But a real one
- Writer
